For Immediate Release Date: June 23, 2026 Contact: Samantha Hughes Phone: (603) 641-9344 ext. 407 Email: shughes@SophiaInstitute.com
Discover the Real St. Francis of Assisi
New Italy Book Unveils Unknown Travels
and Dives Deep into the Life of this Spiritual Giant
Irondale, AL (June 23, 2026)—In an innovative new book, Italy expert and travel coach, Teresa Tomeo, combines a travel guide with a deep dive into the life of St. Francis of Assisi, one of the most beloved saints in history. In Italy's Shrines and Wonders Volume II: Discovering Sacred Spaces and Fascinating Places in the Life of St. Francis of Assisi, Tomeo offers insider travel tips, must-sees and dos, and uncovers the intimate glimpses into his life as a mystic, first recorded stigmatist, miracle worker, and how he became the ‘saint of peace.’ Thanks to his timeless messages, his hometown, Assisi, is even known as the Citta della Pace, or ‘City of Peace.’
In this Volume II of Tomeo’s book series, Italy’s Shrines and Wonders, published by EWTN Publishing, Tomeo takes you on a journey through the Italian countryside to key places in Francis’ life and conversion. As a top Catholic radio host and veteran journalist, Tomeo uncovers the inspiration and deep convictions behind St. Francis’ founding the Franciscan Order, and how he persevered through trials, and worked tirelessly to rebuild the Catholic Church through his service to the poor.
Tomeo explains, “This book is all about getting to really know
St. Francis. ‘You can’t really know someone until you have walked a mile in his shoes.’ This book helps takes you on this journey walking in his footsteps.”
Tomeo reveals the sacred spaces and fascinating places in the Umbrian region, including Francis’ beloved Assisi, his hometown and burial place. Readers will travel with her to Rivotorto and Spoleto, key places in Francis’ conversion where he embraced his call to humility, mercy, and love for the poor. They will also journey to La Verna in the Tuscany Region, where the mountain that St. Francis received the Stigmata is located, and then venture to Greccio in the Lazio Region, the birthplace of the first Nativity scene where one discovers Francis’ deep love for the Incarnation.
The book helps readers fall in love with the poor man of Assisi and the other famous saints of the region, including Saints Clare and Agnes of Assisi, Rufino, Ubaldo, Bernardine, and Carlo Acutis. It includes inspiring pilgrims’ perspectives on journeying to Assisi and imitating St. Francis’s life, and other resources.
Tomeo continued, “Whether you're traveling to Italy during the special 800th Anniversary and ‘Jubilee Year of St. Francis’ declared by Pope Leo XIV, or staying stateside, this book is a perfect guide with gorgeous color photos and vivid details to help anyone experience the beauty of Italy, its rich culture, and most importantly, to build their relationship with God.”
As a part-time resident of Italy who lives less than an hour from Assisi, Tomeo is an award-winning author of 14 books, including three Italy-themed books, and hosted two Italy-themed EWTN Learn Series: “Saints in Italy” and “The Unknown St. Francis of Assisi.” Since founding T's Italy, Tomeo coaches many travelers each year, helping them to slow down to embrace “La Dolce Vita.”
Teresa Tomeo is an author, syndicated Catholic talk-show host, and motivational speaker with more than forty years of experience in TV, radio, and newspaper. In 2000, after 20 years as a reporter in the Detroit market, Teresa left the secular media to start her own speaking and communications company, Teresa Tomeo Communications (TeresaTomeo.com). Her weekday morning radio program, Catholic Connection, is produced by the EWTN Global Catholic Radio Network and heard on more than six hundred Catholic radio stations worldwide and on the Sirius Satellite Network. In 2019, Teresa opened her own Italy travel consultation company, T’s Italy (TravelItalyExpert.com)—coaching visitors to Italy on where to eat, stay, shop, play, and pray during their visit. Authoring over a dozen books, including her best-selling Italy’s Shrines and Wonders: Discovering Sacred Spaces, Fascinating Places, and Destinations off the Beaten Path, published by EWTN Publishing, and Volume II, Italy’s Shrines and Wonders: Discovering Sacred Spaces and Fascinating Places in the Life of St. Francis of Assisireleased in June 2026. As host of the popular “Saints in Italy” EWTN Learn series, her second series, “The Unknown St. Francis of Assisi”, released April 2026, journeys through the stunning hills of Umbria, Lazio, and Tuscany, walking in the very footsteps of this beloved saint. After exploring almost every region in Italy, Teresa and her husband, Deacon Dominick, purchased a home there in 2023, and they now live in central Italy for half of the year. This allows Teresa to continue to travel extensively throughout all of Italy. She and her husband also give marriage and diaconate retreats around the world.
Praise for Italy's Shrines and Wonders V2:
“What a joyful, insightful and downright helpful guide! Teresa helps us all better know and understand the man — and the places associated with him — who resembled Jesus more than any other in history.”
“Make your trip to see the real St. Francis — beyond the caricatures and legends — and you’ll see why his personality had the power to change his world. It still has that power, and it can change yours and mine. The journey begins in these pages with Teresa Tomeo as our guide.”
Mike Aquilina
Author, A History of the Church in 100 Objects
“Teresa Tomeo’s Italy’s Shrines and Wonders is far more than a travel guide; it is a spiritual invitation to walk alongside one of the greatest saints in the history of the Church. This book rescues St. Francis from sentimentality and reveals the real Francis—a radical disciple of Jesus Christ, pierced by the Gospel, humbled before the Eucharist, and completely surrendered to God’s will. By journeying through Assisi and the sacred places…where Francis lived and prayed, readers are invited not only to admire his life, but to imitate his love for Christ.”
Fr. Frankie Cicero
Pastor, St. Timothy Parish, Diocese of Phoenix
About EWTN Publishing
EWTN Publishing is dedicated to the advancement of truth as defined by the magisterium of the Roman Catholic Church. Our mission is to serve the orthodox belief and teaching of the Church as proclaimed by the Supreme Pontiff and his predecessors.
EWTN Publishing is a joint venture between EWTN Global Catholic Network and Sophia Institute Press, focusing on publishing books in the United States, Canada and the entire English-speaking world.
EWTN now transmits eleven separate television channels around the world twenty-four hours a day in multiple languages reaching more than 300 million homes in 145 countries and territories. In addition, our global radio network, publishing, news, Internet and digital media presence makes EWTN the largest Catholic media apostolate in the world. In addition to our extensive influence with bookstores, social media, and news, we aggressively market our book on our global television programming, as well as 300 radio stations in North America.
Request a Review Copy
Members of the media may send an email to Samantha Hughes, Manager of Publicity of Sophia Press, at shughes@SophiaInstitute.com to receive a promotional copy of Italy’s Shrines and Wonders
Vol. II and/or request an interview with Teresa Tomeo.
